Pastitsio A La Greque
This recipe for baked spaghetti with a flavorful beef mixture and creamy béchamel sauce is a comforting and hearty dish that is sure to satisfy your cravings. With tender spaghetti coated in butter, savory minced meat cooked with tomatoes and oregano, and a velvety cheese-enriched béchamel topping, each bite is a delicious medley of flavors and textures. Warm, comforting, and perfect for sharing with loved ones, this baked spaghetti dish is a delightful twist on a classic favorite.
— Constant Cookbook
Ingredients
- 1 kg minced meat
- Olive oil (about 1/3 of a cup)
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
- 2 cans chopped tomatoes
- 2 tablespoons ketchup
- ½ cup wine
- 1 tablespoon oregano (or Herb Blend for Moussaka)
- Salt & Pepper
- ½ kg thick spaghetti (if you donâ€t find thick spaghetti you can use penne)
- ¼ cup melted butter
- 1 cup grated cheese (cheddar or gouda)
- For the béchamel sauce
- 3-4 tablespoons butter (or margarine)
- 4-5 tablespoons flour
- 1 litre milk
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg (optional)
- 1 egg
- Salt & Pepper
Instructions
- Prepare the minced meat. In a saucepan put some olive oil, the onion, garlic and minced meat, and sauté. Add the wine and cover the saucepan. Let it cook for 5 minutes then add the chopped tomatoes with the ketchup, oregano, salt and pepper. Stir the food and cook for about 20 minutes until all the excess liquid is gone from the meat.
- In a saucepan put plenty of salted water, bring to the boil and add the spaghetti. When cooked, strain and pour the melted butter over the pasta. Stir well and put it in a deep baking tray. Put the cooked minced meat on top and open up pockets to allow the meat to spread through the spaghetti so that you donât have just minced meat on the surface but both spaghetti and minced meat are well blended. Sprinkle some grated cheese over the top.
- Prepare the béchamel sauce. In a non-stick saucepan heat most of the milk with the butter and put the remaining milk in a bowl with the flour, making a paste. Pour the flour paste and milk into the saucepan with the hot milk and bring to the boil. Wait until the sauce thickens and starts making small bubbles, then stir thoroughly. Leave it for 2 minutes (from the moment the bubbles start), then remove from the heat.
- Beat the egg and add to the sauce. Season with salt and pepper and add ½ cup of grated cheese.
- Pour this mixture over the tray and with a spoon open little slots to let some of the sauce blend with the spaghetti. The top should be a nice layer of béchamel sauce.
- Put the tray into the oven at 180°C for 20 minutes, or until the surface becomes golden brown.
- Allow the food to stand for 10-15 minutes so that you can cut it nicely, and serve.
Yield
Serves 8
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